Microsoft patents system to track signal loss in optical switch networks
Microsoft has filed a patent for a monitoring system that automatically estimates signal loss in optical circuit switch networks. The system compares the power of light signals sent from transmitters with the power received by detectors to identify components that are losing more signal than expected.
In the filing’s own words
Systems and methods are provided for a novel algorithm and system for automatically estimating the loss in an optical circuit switches (“OCS”) network and identifying components with unusually high loss. A computing system receives a first set of optical power data corresponding to optical power emitted from each of a plurality of optical transmitters that is communicatively coupled to input ports of an OCS, via optical fiber cables, while receiving a second set of optical power data measured by a photodetector of each of a plurality of optical receivers that is communicatively coupled to output ports of the OCS, via optical fiber cables. The computing system calculates a plurality of optical signal losses, based on analysis of the first and second sets of optical power data in view of expected ranges of optical power. The computing system generates a report, based on the plurality of optical signal losses.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A monitoring system that is used in estimating loss in an optical circuit switch network, comprising: a processing system; and memory coupled to the processing system, the memory comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, causes the monitoring system to perform operations comprising: receiving a first set of optical power data corresponding to optical power emitted from transmitting optics of each of a plurality of optical transmitters that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of input ports of an optical circuit switch (“OCS”), via a corresponding one of a first set of optical fiber cables that is coupled to an optical transmission port of that optical transmitter; receiving a second set of optical power data that are measured by a photodetector of each of a plurality of optical receivers that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of output ports of the OCS, via a corresponding one of a second set of optical fiber cables that is coupled to an optical receiver port of that optical receiver; calculating a plurality of optical signal losses, based on analysis of the first set of optical power data and the second set of optical power data in view of expected ranges of optical power; and generating a report including estimated losses for each of a plurality of components of the optical circuit switch network, based on the plurality of optical signal losses.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- ESTIMATING LOSS IN OPTICAL CIRCUIT SWITCH NETWORKS
- Publication number
- US20260280702A1
- Application number
- 19076208
- Filed
- Mar 11, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04B 10/07955 Electricity & electronicsH04B 10/0799 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.